Blend health and refreshment for a frozen summertime treat

There is a sweet, satisfying and delicious refreshment for the warmer weather? A smoothie is a healthy choice for heavenly tastes as well as nutritional benefits.

You have a lot of freedom to be creative and mix in a variety of ingredients when making smoothies. You can even sneak in various seeds and spices that can make your smoothie even healthier.

Pumpkin seeds and cinnamon have been shown to reduce inflammation and blood pressure levels, according to livestrong.com. The site also says chia seeds have a high fiber content, which promotes regular elimination and detoxification. Coconut water is “an all-natural way to hydrate, reduce sodium, and add potassium to diets,” according to WebMD. Those are just a few examples of simple ingredients that can make a big impact on one’s health.

Whether you use fruits or veggies, and no matter if you’re aiming for energy, recovery or simply a yummy treat, there is so much experimentation to be done. Here are a few recipe ideas to bolster your creativity:

Protein
serves 1
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 cup milk (chocolate, if you want)
½  tablespoon peanut butter
½  medium banana
1 scoop of ice

Coffee
serves 1
1 cup coffee (cold, brewed strong)
1 banana
8 oz. low fat vanilla yogurt
2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/4 cup ice (cubed)

Fruit
serves 2
1 cup frozen strawberries
¾ cup milk (or water)
¾ cup pineapple juice
½ cup vanilla yogurt

Veggie
serves 1
¾ cup carrot juice
½ cup avocado
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 pinch of cayenne pepper

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